Proxy to get around Websense

[Tim Burton]

I work at a school that uses Websense filtering. I'd like to get around it so I could visit: http://www.simhq.com

Does anyone have a proxy that isn't blocked by WS?

I know that the-cloak.com is blocked, so is proxify.com

[bubba]

I used anonymouse for a while but the current updates for websense got that one, you be SOL I think.

[pointreyes]

Why not ask the administrator to allow you access?

If you try to bypass and you are caught they might (or should) have a policy that has tough reprimands for going against the organization's security policies. Better to ask and be told no than circle around them and get fired. You never know though, maybe just maybe they will be understanding to your reasoning for accessing the site.

[Sovereign]

Nice try pointreyes, but schools are Nazis when it comes to filtering. They'll say "It will prevent students from working" and "Schools are not internet cafes" etc. My school certainly is. I wanted to check my webmail and they wouldn't let me. They told a teacher that she would have to find another site for a class project that involved crossword puzzles because the site she found has....drum roll....flash games in addition to the crossword maker.

[pointreyes]

I was being sarcastic with the last sentence Sovereign. I was very close to making a rhetorical statement. However, I would still be careful in case a security policy is in place that could leave to measures that a person my not like.

[Tim Burton]

I know they wouldn't be happy about me being on the net at work, but the fact is that half the day I don't do a thing.

Heck, they don't even allow people to connect their computers to the network, but everyone does it. Since I don't work in the same school every day and my laptop doesn't have a "name" that IDs me, I figure they aren't going to search hard enough to catch me. Besides, this is the last semester I am going to work for the school if I get accepted in the military as an officer.

So I figure, I have nothing to lose.

I'll tell you I have had Websense block vindiciae Contra Tyrannos by Junius Brutus as political extremist. Ironically, it is one of the major works that convinced our Founding Fathers that it was Biblically justified for them to stand up against the king....

[pcrobot]

My library uses Bess... that dog is so annoying!

[pointreyes]

I'll tell you I have had Websense block vindiciae Contra Tyrannos by Junius Brutus as political extremist. Ironically, it is one of the major works that convinced our Founding Fathers that it was Biblically justified for them to stand up against the king....

Hmmm, ironic or to be expected? Look at the facts:
Educational Institute: Yes
Does this link promote Socialism: No
Does it have Biblically information: Egads! Can't have that!
Thus, must block due to risk of independent thought that risks the support of building educational institutes like our beloved Rousseau, our real god, promotes for the betterment of Society.

Er, sorry - got a 'tad' sarcastic there.

I wonder if Websense came up with that classification or did the school do so?

[Tim Burton]

LOL! I think websense....

[dndoseller]

One of these usually get me in...

http://www.ocrig.com
http://www.teradazzle.com
http://www.unblockworld.com

[bubba]

Takes notes, will add them to the websense for work. (if they are not there all ready)

I'm on the other side of the fence since this thread first started. I'm now the IT guy for my work. I get asked from time to time to pull net use records for a user. I have change my out look on using the net at work for personal stuff. One user, was let go, spent 7 of her 8 hour shift surfing the net for a week straight. She was pissed ans said she was going to sue for invading he privacy by tracking her usage of the internet. We gave her a copy of the acceptable use policy that she singed when she was started with the company, she quickly gathered her things and left quietly.

[milkman9797]

What you need to do if you want to get around websense at school or really any web filter:

Step 1) have a windows computer

Step 2) download tor at https://www.torproject.org/download/download

Step 3) Install tor and run it

Step 4) click the start button on tor and have it connect all the way

Step 5) go to your proxy settings in windows (windows key, type in proxy, and click the first result)

Step 6) go to LAN settings

Step 7) Check the two boxes in the proxy server box and then click advance

Step enter "localhost" and port "9050" into the "socks box" (make sure all the other boxes are empty in the server section)

Step 9) Click ok and exit out of all the proxy stuff

Step 10) go to a block website to test it out

Notes: when you don't need tor open, just exit it out and turn it off then turn off the proxy (Un-check the first box you checked in this process) This makes it so now you are being filtered again or so you can access your home internet if you need to. If you are on a mac, look on the internet for a program called "one click vpn" and that'll get ya around it to.

[bubba]

Good way to get fired anymore. Bypassing filters is not taken lightly anymore. Rather litigious society has made it a zero tolerance most places anymore.

Most have a smartphone. Use it.

[egloeckle]

Installing something like Tor on a machine will probably be seen as worse than using a proxy to bypass the filters. Heck, if they are filtering web access, odds are he doesnt even have access to install software (I know none of my users are given that ability, if they can install software then they can install malware).

There are other ways around it, though I am kind of with bubba on this one. Use a smart phone, I would guess there is some acceptable use policy that forbids bypassing their security that you will wind up in hot water over.

For documentation purposes though, ways that typically get around websense that I have seen work are:
- Teamviewer or similar to a machine at home. You can use the portable version to get around installing anything on the remote machine.
- SSH tunnel a remote session. Most places will only block the standard SSH port (22) but not any of the higher ports "1024+"
- SSH tunnel a socks proxy. This is probably the best solution, IMO. This can be done using nothing more then putty and a remote SSH server somewhere.
- Set up your own http/https proxy, though this may not work. Websense I am fairly certain (its been awhile) will scan content of http connections. Unless you are using an https proxy (which is also possible to monitor, but most admins dont assume the user is THAT bright) websense can be scanning the content of what you are doing and blocking it even when using a proxy.